Hello Fascination... [Spire]

“Mommy! Mommy! You have to see this!” The girl’s head turned to the side as she saw a small boy run up to his mother with what looked to be a boxed toy fighter jet in his hands. The boy had the biggest smile on his face as he ran up to his mother and her dead heart hardened just a bit as she envied the family’s ignorance to the world around them. If the little boy died, his parents would mourn him… Send him prayers and flowers, but even though her own parents were known Catholics; she hadn’t seen them once. She knew in her heart that it was a futile hope, but each day she had grown used to looking for them… Waiting for them.

The city had put on a small memorial service for the teenagers lost in the massacre and even though many citizens had brought flowers, lit candles and prayed for them at the shrine; the only thing that she could think of was how her parents had treated her death as a ticket out. “We’ll have to see if Ryan will help you put it back together.” The sound of the woman’s voice broke her out of her thoughts as she sat up and swung her feet to the floor and watched the family leave as a happy unit.

Why had she not been able to pass on? Why hadn’t she been reincarnated, greeted by a god, simply ceased to exist, or anything that was supposed to happen? She deserved better than this state of purgatory. The only thing she regretted in her life the fact that she died so early… She had plans, she had a future. With how close she was to her birthday mixed with how sure she was of her decision to join, almost all the paperwork was filled. Of course she only had the very basic knowledge of the organization itself and hardly knew anything about what they would be fighting. All she knew was that people with abilities were sought out, and even though she hadn’t displayed anything amazing, she could still see the spirits; she could still feel the pressure from the monsters that were constantly attacking her city. Her home. “I should be helping them fight right now.” The regret she felt was obvious in her voice. She hadn’t wanted to die. She had hardly even begun living, and yet; everything that she had learned had been a waste. Even sitting there, she could feel herself easily building in irritation.

“Someone in this mess will see me eventually; or at the very least notice my presence. It’s not possible for all of them to be spiritually retarded.” The slight irritation could be heard in her voice as she stood from her bench. With a glance down to the chain protruding from her chest, she lifted her right hand to let it slide of her fingers. It was only about a foot in length, but it had been one of the few things that allowed her to realize what had happened. After letting the chain drop, she moved slowly around the first level of the shopping center. While she was living, this had been one of the few places she fled to when an argument with her parents arose and as such she knew it better than most places.

Making her way towards the entrance, she stopped in front of the small memorial shrine that had been constructed on a bench by the doorway. The memorial that had been partly dedicated to her. Looking at it she saw a few people reading the cards that had been placed there, but there were no familiar faces. Climbing up, she sat on planter behind a few feet away and pulled her knees to her chest; leaning her chin on them and watched. Looking at it, it was obvious that her parents hadn’t come to visit it, but they would come eventually… They would come and say good-bye.

A gentle breeze made his hair sway as Auryuu kept a steady pace. One step after the other as he continued the approach to his next destination on foot. Drifting was all he seemed to do now. No home, nothing to keep him tied down to a certain place. Admittedly everything felt so empty and worthless to Auryuu. London only became his recent bastion of war. A lost soul was what he was. Self imposed exile kept him from the only place he ever loved. As well the only people he ever cherished. His zanpaktou was the only thing left. This single wooden katana, holding more fate then anything. Luminescence of the shikai enlightening a certain beauty that appealed to him.

Auryuu continued down the only path he could see only obscured by humans. The sidewalk and streets hadn't diverged at all even though he walked a couple of blocks. It was strange. It busy as well, as many people swarmed the scene only to reveal a large building. Closer inspection with Auryuu's eyes made it out to be some kind of mall, or shopping outlet.

Curiosity suddenly washed over his mind. With a quick turn of the legs he was now on the way to the sliding doors. The entrance to this large cultural facility. Mostly accompanied by the natives who possessed a english accent. Finding himself blocked by the large mass, he repositioned himself suddenly to the front. A bunch of women blocked the last stretch and seemed to be almost shoving themselves through with way more agression then Auryuu was. Soon enough they eventually jolted in to only be discharged to different directions. Auryuu was shocked with amazement.

Greatly vast in size this strange shopping center held a couple floors worth of merchandise all jammed in these flashy stores. Posters, people, and shopping bags came to his vision. The perfect example of capitolism. Everybody wore nice clothing. Nobody poorly kept seemed to even exist. It was an eye sore to Auryuu. After all, Auryuu had seen poverty for himself. Countries unable to feed their people. Famine, death, and diesease were present. While here nothing was even heard of. Being aware of his foreign way of thinking Auryuu quickly disregarded it. Growing attached to it only by his life experiences, but he was quick to adapt. Natural selection had become more present in the world. People now only looked out for "Number one".

Auryuu continued a casual walk as he browsed through the first floor. Everything was laid out pretty complex. It took him awhile to even find the area of elevators that went up to the second floor. He could've just jumped to the second floor, but that involved leaving his gigai which he didn't feel like doing. Mentally he had become human, straying from his old shinigami state of mind. "Oh I'm so strong" or "I can kill hollows" didn't even show up in his thoughts. There was just overall appreciation for life.

He scanned the crowd carefully. Speeding through the multiple people in which he eyed with a certain observancy he had developed in time. Being 518 years old had certainly given him experience. The power to judge with his eyes. The power to stay young for a set point of time. Many things he had picked up in his life assembled themselves in his personality.

Continuing his observant sight a certain thing caught his eye. A strange object dangling unfashionably from a persons body. His legs pushed harder as he sped himself up suddenly having taken an interest. A sense of obligation fueled him. Not particularly happy to see souls wandering around, but he knew he couldn't leave them. For he feared their loneliness, but this one was different. She was pretty and delicate, absolutely astonishing glammered with a fragile beauty. She really stood out among the other females. Even though she was ignored by others because of her spirit form, she appeared flawless. She was amazing to Auryuu who was instantly captivated. He continued as he walked closer and closer finally getting close to the woman as he stared in her eyes giving her a sense that he knew. These eyes of his allowing him to witness her spiritual form. Even though he had all this social experience, no words came to mind. So he just flashed her a baffled kind of look.

She didn’t know how long she had been sitting there. She had watched many strangers pass the makeshift shrine, had seen a few stop and look, had seen a couple lift their hands in prayers, but of all the people that came and left; none were either of the two people she was waiting for.

But in the mess of strangers, she saw one of the people she missed the most. Her best friend Mei. As though it was clockwork, the girl had been there everyday to visit her death site.“It’s been two weeks Lia and I still can’t believe you’re gone.” The words were barely spoken as she watched her best friend place a yellow rose beside her picture. Her and Mei had been best friends since Middle School, but they had known each other for a long time before then. Back then, she couldn’t see herself ever getting along with the Chinese transfer and they had been rivals at first. It took three years for them to finally speak to each other and even then it was only because they had been paired for a project. It was through that project that they realized they weren’t so different; that the only reason they hated each other was because they were so much alike.

Watching her friend leave, she couldn’t help but feel her nonexistent heart burst in her chest. How could it be that Mei found time to visit her for a few minutes everyday, but her parents couldn’t even stop by once? Jumping from the planter, she shoved her foot right through the center of the memorial, but just like every other day, her foot went straight through without disturbing a thing. She knew that nothing would happen, that she could tramp around, kick things, smack things, and attempt to throw things, but nothing would happen. The general public that crowded the Mall couldn’t see her.

This… Was a daily thing for the girl. In life her emotions were hard for her to control and in death it seemed as though they were even more on edge. Resigning herself back to her perch on the planter, she stared off, not really seeing anything that was happening. Sitting there, she watched the crowd of people pass in and out of the mall. Cliques of young people, small families, even a few elderly couples seemed to be out today, all oblivious to her presence.

All oblivious except one.

As she watched the boy stare in her direction, she couldn’t help but turn her head and look behind her. Had she missed something? A Mall fight? Someone shoplifting? There had to be something happening that could hold someone’s interest the way his seemed to be held? Turning her head, the girl was only met with disappointment when the only thing she saw behind her was the Japanese Maple that called the planter it’s home. “If you keep staring at a tree like that, even if it‘s a pretty one, then people might start to think that you’re a bit mad.” Sarcasm tinted her voice as her left hand lifted and pointed at the tree in the planter she was sitting on.

“Then again, I’m not really the girl to be saying anything… It’s not like you can hear me anyway.” Returning to her previous position, the girl stared at the strange boy. He was probably one of the spiritually aware humans and could feel her presence there, but feeling a person’s presence and being able to communicate with them were two different things. If the boy were able to see her... He would've said something; wouldn't he? It wasn't everyday that a person blessed with "sight" ran into a ghost. Studying him for a moment; she noticed how he wasn't an upper-class carbon copy like everyone else in the Mall.

He was different…

Concealed in gigai he stared at her. Anyone who wasn't spirtually aware would just see some college kid zoning out in public. No sense of caring over stuff like that even remained, as he looked at her face, just seeing the shrine in his periphrial vision. Careless yet aware of the sounds and motions around him as the people rushed onwards to their next purchase.

Soon enough she appeared to notice his eyes resting on her. Looking backwards she held a confused expression on her face. Not aware anyone else could see her, or maybe just mildly surprised. Whatever the case Auryuu came to the realization he would have to send her. With speed he could do it in a instant. Release from his gigai and send the soul skybound to Soul Society, but something stopped him. That gentle like frame, supported by almost heartfelt eyes which sapped his mind of any such thought.

But... he couldn't just let her wallow in loneliness. Or even worse, be attacked by the various hollows which lined the atmosphere of London rather recklessly. Was he being selfish? Or was he being thoughtful in taking this time to consider what she wanted? In his mind he was absolutely indecisive. A jumbled puzzle where the pieces were missing.

Taking a step forward still in his gigai he was ever closer to the girl. His smile he gave her was all a facade, if he was being true and actually expressing his emotions it would've come out as a kinda conflicted look. Suddenly she spoke. Boldly nontheless as she uttered her first sentence before him, breaking the solitude of her own company. Doubtful of his ability to see her, he felt as if he needed to prove it and so he did.

"But, I can see you"

His voice lay steady as he carefully mouthed the words in a kind tone. Taking another step closer he was now only a few feet from her. The gap was closing. The chain on her would need to be taken away first. A spiritual being tied to this world could not transfer easily to soul society, if not at all. Conjuring up his next words he spoke carefully, not to alarm her of his true identity as a Soul Reaper. For now all he was, was a shinigami with a kind soul, more in touch with his original humanity then most.

"Do you need any help?"

Hearing the words leave the boy’s mouth, the girl’s eyes widened at the shock of meeting a living person who was able to hear her. In the days that followed her death, she had tried to gain everyone’s attention. Had yelled at them… Had waved her hands in front of their faces… Had passed through them… But no one had been able to sense her presence. No one had even acknowledged her existence, bar the other dead people; people who were just as lost and confused as she was. With each passing day, her attempts had slowly dwindled until she stopped trying to get their attention all together and became an observer. Waiting for her parents, planning what she would do when she found a person who could communicate with her.

Looking at the boy, she took a deep breath to calm her psychological nerves. He had offered to help her help her; he could help her. As a living person he could find her parents, tell them how sorry she was; he could tell them that she didn’t mean what she had said that day; he could tell them that she loved them.. But for some odd reason the words wouldn’t come. Somehow the thought of having a random stranger locate her parents didn’t seem like such a good idea. It was obvious that her parents had moved on with their lives and asking this strange boy to find them would be like airing all of their dirty laundry for the whole world to see.

Two weeks. It had been over two weeks since her death and they hadn’t visited her place of death once… Just once would’ve been enough for her, but they couldn’t even give her that.

Do you need any help? It was an odd question to ask a dead person. If anyone had asked her that while she was living, she would’ve laughed it off. She would’ve told them that she was completely fine, and probably given them some sort of speech on how someone’s destiny could only be controlled by the person themselves. Even if she had just gotten in another argument; even if she was only getting a few hours of sleep due to studying; even if she had a tremendous headache and only wanted to be alone… She would’ve put on a smile and pretended as though everything was okay.

But she wasn’t okay. She was dead.

“No. I don‘t need help.” The words were said with a tint of bitterness. She was a ghost, a dead spirit, any help that she needed; he wouldn’t be able to provide. A living, breathing, person couldn’t answer the questions she had. They couldn’t answer those questions because they hadn’t experienced anything like her before… They would only be able to speculate about possibilities at best.

With a slight purse of her lips, Delia looked at the boy for a moment before attempting to be civil. She wasn’t a brute. She wasn’t a monster, and even if she was dead, she still knew how to put on a show. Even in death, she was still an Addy.

Hopping down from the planter, the girl walked towards the shrine. “I’m sorry. I just don’t see how you can help me when I‘m already dead.” Giving the boy a smile, she hoped that she came across as a placated soul just waiting to move on. Perhaps the boy would leave and pretend as though she was a figment of his imagination? Standing in front of the small memorial, the girl leaned over and looked at the picture Mei had provided. She looked happy… It had been the day that she had finally come in second in something and world realized she wasn‘t perfect. She had imperfections just like everyone else. She had come in second to Mei in an amateur music competition… Delia‘s violin against Mei‘s cello. They had both taken the instruments up for a total of six weeks, and while Delia had a musical background it was Mei who was more musically inclined.

“Trying to help me… Would be a waste of your time.” Her eyes didn’t leave the picture as she spoke, expecting the boy to leave and move on with his life… He was obviously more spiritually aware than most humans, but probably ignorant to the world around him. If it became known that he could speak to the dead, she was positive that his life as he knew it would be over.

OOC: Just to clarify… The italicized sentence is not Auryuu speaking, but side commentary to show more of Delia’s thought process.